I think that it is only fitting that my very first post be a book review of my favorite book of all time.
Kurt Vonnegut's first novel was Player Piano. It is an awesome tale of what could easily have been after World War II. It describes a world in which people have essentially been replaced by machines and because of their inherent need to feel needed and useful have lost their identities as members of the American culture. The novel is a beautiful examples of Vonnegut's ability to portray what might possibly be and at the same time invite the reader in to examine the complexities of our lives as humans. In typical luddite fashion--Kurt has admitted that he suffers from this affliction, or blessing if you may--Vonnegut portrays the progress in technology made during World War II as running amok and essentially taking over the whole country. Through the satire and wit though there is a very important message in this cautionary tale. As his earliest novel the message is portrayed fairly bluntly; it is interesting to compare this first novel to some of his later works in which the irony and wit almost seem to cloud the subtle messages and intentions of the text almost completely.
Kurt Vonnegut's first novel was Player Piano. It is an awesome tale of what could easily have been after World War II. It describes a world in which people have essentially been replaced by machines and because of their inherent need to feel needed and useful have lost their identities as members of the American culture. The novel is a beautiful examples of Vonnegut's ability to portray what might possibly be and at the same time invite the reader in to examine the complexities of our lives as humans. In typical luddite fashion--Kurt has admitted that he suffers from this affliction, or blessing if you may--Vonnegut portrays the progress in technology made during World War II as running amok and essentially taking over the whole country. Through the satire and wit though there is a very important message in this cautionary tale. As his earliest novel the message is portrayed fairly bluntly; it is interesting to compare this first novel to some of his later works in which the irony and wit almost seem to cloud the subtle messages and intentions of the text almost completely.
Buy "Player Piano" from Amazon.com
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